March 10, 2010
Weekly Release Miami vs. Ohio State 
THE WEEKEND
No. 2/1 Miami begins CCHA Tournament play this weekend when it welcomes in-state rival Ohio State to campus. The top-seeded RedHawks and No. 8 Buckeyes meet in the best-of-three quarterfinal series Friday, Saturday and, if necessary, Sunday. The teams just met two weeks ago in the regular-season finale, skating to a scoreless tie.
The winner of the series advances to Detroit next weekend to play two more games in the race for the Mason Cup. The semifinals are set for Friday, while championship and third-place games will be Saturday.
As the top seed, Miami had a first-round bye last week, taking two days off before returning to the ice last Wednesday. Saturday night will mark the first time in school history that the RedHawks have faced the same opponent in four straight games. Ohio State advanced to the quarterfinals by sweeping Notre Dame last weekend at the OSU Ice Rink. The Buckeyes earned wins by 3-1 and 8-2 scores.
THE COACHES
Enrico Blasi (Miami '94) is in his 11th season behind the RedHawk bench, holding a 234-156-40 career record. He is a three-time CCHA Coach of the Year selection and was named National Coach of the Year in 2005-06.
John Markell (Bowling Green `79) stands 279-265-56 in 15 seasons overall and at Ohio State. He has led the Buckeyes to six NCAA Tournament appearances, including a Frozen Four berth in 1997-98.
THE SERIES
Miami earned three wins and a tie against Ohio State during the regular-season, winning three straight before the scoreless draw on Feb. 27. The RedHawks now lead the overall series 61-56-12. At home, the RedHawks are 38-21-4 overall, including 5-1 in CCHA Tournament action. Miami stands 11-1-2 against OSU in the last 14 games.
POLL NUMBERS
Miami regained the No. 1 spot in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll on Monday, but was just four points behind Denver in the USCHO.com ranking. This marks the 16th time in 19 weeks that the RedHawks have been first in one of the polls.
QUICK HITS
- Miami stands 22-33 all-time in CCHA Tournament play, but has never won the Mason Cup. This marks the third time that the RedHawks been the top seed with a championship-game loss ending the first two chances.
- Miami is 5-2 all-time against Ohio State in CCHA Tournament action, but the teams have not had a postseason meeting since March 19, 2004.
- When the teams skated to a scoreless tie two weeks ago, it marked just the third time in school history that Miami was involved in a 0-0 game.
- Tommy Wingels is Miami's leading scorer this year against the Buckeyes. He has five goals and two assists for seven points, one more than Jarod Palmer (3g, 3a).
SERIES BREAKDOWN
Miami earned three wins and a tie against Ohio State this year, increasing its series advantage to 61-56-12. The results improved the RedHawks' mark against the Buckeyes to 11-1-2 over the last 14 games.
At home, Miami stands 38-21-4 overall, while OSU holds a 31-20-6 record in the capital city.
Here is a breakdown of the series over the last three seasons (13 meetings). A full series history can be found on page 118 of the Miami Fan Guide:
11/19/07 W, 5-1 A
11/20/07 W, 5-1 H
12/30/07 W, 4-2 N1
2/26/08 W, 2-1 A
2/27/08 W, 4-3 H
10/10/08 T, 3-3 (SOL) A
10/11/08 W, 7-3 H
2/27/09 L, 6-2 H
2/28/09 W, 7-5 A
12/11/09 W, 6-0 A
12/12/09 W, 4-2 H
02/26/10 W, 6-2 H
02/27/10 T, 0-0 (SOL) A
N1 - Ohio Hockey Classic (Nationwide Arena, Columbus, Ohio)
BLASI vs. THE BUCKEYES
Head Coach Enrico Blasi stands 25-18-6 against Ohio State is his 11 seasons on the Miami bench. In Oxford, Blasi's record is 13-7-1, while he is 10-8-4 in Columbus. The other six games -- in which he is 2-3-1 -- have taken place at neutral sites.
POSTSEASON vs. THE BUCKS
Miami has won five of the seven postseason matchups with Ohio State, although the Buckeyes won 4-3 the last time they met, March 19, 2004 in the CCHA semifinals. All of the other contests have been in Oxford as part of the early rounds.
NO MORE TIES
With the close of the regular-season, there is just one more chance for a tie game this year -- the CCHA third-place game. The RedHawks have seen plenty of draws, in 2009-10, though, as the 0-0 game at Ohio was Miami's seventh of the season, topping the previous school record of six in 1994-95. It also marked the ninth overtime game of the year, topping the standard set in 1991-92 and equalled in 2004-05).
100-POINT CLUB
Miami has had two players cross the 100-point threshold this season as Jarod Palmer and Carter Camper have both reached the mark.
Palmer became the 43rd member of the elite club on Oct. 24 when he scored to tie the game against Michigan State.
Camper dished out three assists at Ohio State on Dec. 11 to put his name on the list as Member No. 44.
An abbreviated listing of the 100-point club (full list is on page 127 of the fan guide):
Player Games Points Year
1. Steve Morris 145 202 1979-83
2. Rick Kuraly 145 179 1979-83
3. Kevyn Adams 151 172 1992-96
4. Bill Bok 136 169 1978-82
5. Vern Sketchley 131 158 1978-82
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11. Mike Kompon 153 138 2000-04
12. Jarod Palmer 159 132 2006-
Nathan Davis 138 132 2004-08
14. Boyd Sutton 146 130 1985-89
15. Dave Wheeldon 126 128 1980-84
16. John Ciotti 105 126 1982-85
Dave McClintock 138 126 1978-83
18. Ken House 151 124 1988-92
Jason Deskins 147 124 1997-02
20. Enrico Blasi 151 123 1990-94
Bill Easdale 137 123 1982-86
Greg Lukas 114 123 1980-84
Jeff Sisto 144 123 1985-89
24. Chris Bergeron 143 120 1989-93
Derek Edwardson 135 120 2000-04
Greg Hogeboom 156 120 2000-04
Matt Christie 150 120 2003-07
28. Tim Leahy 124 118 1994-98
29. Carter Camper 107 117 2007-
30. Bobby Marshall 155 115 1990-94
Marty Guerin 156 115 2003-07
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Tommy Wingels 118 91 2007-
Pat Cannone 118 89 2007-
CONFERENCE WINS
When the regular-season finale finished in a tie two weeks ago, Miami fell one game short of equalling the school record for conference wins in a season. The RedHawks finished 21-2-5 in league play, shy of the 22 they posted during the 1992-93 and 2007-08 campaigns.
A listing of the best CCHA seasons in Miami school history:
1. 2007-08 22-5-1 (28 games)
1992-93 22-3-5 (30 games)
3. 2009-10 21-2-5 (28 games)
2005-06 20-6-2 (28 games)
5. 1996-97 19-7-1 (28 games)
6. 2001-02 17-10-1 (28 games)
2003-04 17-8-3 (28 games)
2008-09 17-7-4 (28 games)
ANOTHER TWENTY
With the 10-4 victory over Lake Superior State on Feb. 6, Miami posted its fifth straight 20-win season. The RedHawks have now eclipsed the plateau 13 times in their 32-year history.
This marks the eighth time in Enrico Blasi's 11 seasons that his team has posted at least 20 wins.
SIX SPOT
Miami scored a season-high six goals in the second period of the Feb. 26 game vs. Ohio State. Previously, the RedHawks had tallied four goals in a period on 11 occasions, including twice against both Lake Superior State and Bowling Green.
The second stanza has seen the most occurrences of four-plus goals, as it has happened six other times. The RedHawks have also tallied four goals in the third on four occasions.
SHUTOUT STANDARDS
Miami registered its ninth shutout of the season on Feb. 27 against Ohio State, more than doubling the previous school record of four in 2002-03.
Cody Reichard has been in net for five of the contests, setting a new school standard with a 2-0 decision against Lake Superior State on Feb. 5. He passed David Burleigh, who had four in 2002-03.
Connor Knapp has the other four shutouts this season, including three during CCHA play.
GOAL SWAP
Miami has used its typical Friday-Saturday goal rotation -- starting Cody Reichard the first night and Connor Knapp the second -- in 15 of the 18 weekend series. Reichard started both games at Northern Michigan, at Michigan and at Ferris State.
Both players have been outstanding in net with Reichard leading the nation in goals-against average (1.48), save percentage (.937) and winning percentage (.841/17-2-3). In conference play only, Reichard and Knapp are 1-2, respectively, in the league in GAA (1.23/1.60) and save percentage (.950/.937).
POWER-PLAY UNIT
Miami's power-play unit has struggled during the 2010 portion of the schedule, converting just 14.9 percent (15 of 101) since the new year. That includes a two-of 18 total over the last two weekends.
Still, the RedHawks rank fifth in the CCHA at 18.6 percent (36 of 194).
PENALTY KILLERS
Conversely, Miami held Ohio State without a power-play goal on nine opportunities at the end of February. That followed a two-of-10 weekend by Nebraska-Omaha seven days earlier.
The RedHawks have killed off 11 straight penalties and rank first in the CCHA with an 87.9 percent success rate (174 of 198).
Miami has had four lengthy penalty-kill streaks this season -- 19 (at the start of the year), 17, 21 and 24.
CLOSE CALLS
Of Miami's 36 games this season, 21 have either ended in a tie or had a one-goal differential. Nine games have gone to overtime.
Miami stands 9-3-7 this year in games decided by a single goal or less, including 1-1-7 in overtime games. A year ago, the RedHawks were 0-2-5 in games that were tied after regulation and 6-7-0 in one-goal games.
QUICK STARTS OF LATE
Miami has scored multiple goals in the first period five times in the last 11 games, including a season-high four vs. Lake Superior State on Feb. 6. In contrast, the RedHawks tallied just 12 goals in the 25 previous first periods this season.
Still, Miami has scored only 28 of its 125 goals (22.4 percent) in the opening period of play. The other 97 goals have been more evenly split -- 54 in the second and 42 in the third (one in overtime).
Miami has outscored its last 11 opponents 16-3 during the first period.
IN THE CLUTCH
Tommy Wingels and Jarod Palmer have each recorded a team-high five game-winning goals, tied for fifth in the country. They are two behind the national leader.
Andy Miele is just one shy of the team lead at four and is tied for 15th in the country.
SHOOTING GALLERY
After Miami and Ohio State took the same number of shots (35) in the series opener, Feb. 26, the RedHawks held a commanding 38-23 advantage the next night in Columbus.
Miami has now held an edge in shots in 29 of the 36 contests, with two others being. The record for those games is 20-4-5, leaving a 4-1-2 mark when opponents are equal or better.
The RedHawks registered at least 10 shots in five of the six periods vs. OSU and have now done so in 68 of the 108 overall stanzas this year. The high is 23 in the second period of the Saturday game at Western Michigan.
CCHA WEEKLY WINNERS
A pair of RedHawks won CCHA weekly awards following the weekend series at Bowling Green. Senior Jarod Palmer and sophomore Chris Wideman were named Player of the Week and Defenseman of the Week, respectively.
During the season, a total of five Miami players have been honored, including a pair on Nov. 9. Palmer and Cody Reichard were honored as Player of the Week and Goaltender of the Week, respectively, after the sweep at Michigan.
Sophomore Matt Tomassoni was the first RedHawk to gain a CCHA weekly award this year when he was named Defensive Player of the Week on Oct. 19.
PALMER PUCKS
Senior Jarod Palmer leads Miami in points with 40 after totalling 22 points in the last 14 games. He has also been held scoreless only three times during that span, although two of those have come in the last three contests.
Palmer is tied for the team lead in goals with 16, while standing second in assists with 24. This season, he has five game-winning goals and is a two-time recipient of CCHA Player of the Week honors. He has also moved into the top 13 on Miami's career scoring chart.
MIE-LEADER
With 10 assists in the last seven games, junior Andy Miele has regained the team lead in that statistical category. He has 25 to go along with 13 goals, ranking second on the team with 38 points.
Miele has now registered 19 points (6g, 13a) over the last 13 games. He finished fourth in the CCHA scoring race with 32 points in conference play.
Miele has matched his career high of two goals three times this season -- vs. Lake Superior State (Feb. 6), vs. Ohio State (Dec. 12) and at Western Michigan (Nov. 20). He has also tallied four game-winning goals.
THE CAPTAIN
Team captain Tommy Wingels shares the team lead with 16 goals this season, while also ranking third in overall scoring (36 points).
Wingels has recorded at least one point in 17 of the last 21 games, including seven straight at one point. He has also tallied points in 24 of the 36 outings this season.
In December, Wingels tallied a career-high four goals in the game at Ohio State.
CAMPER COMES ON
Junior Carter Camper added a goal and an assist to his scoring total vs. Nebraska-Omaha and now has 34 (13g, 21a) for the season. He tallied 42 points on 20 goals and 22 assists as a sophomore.
Camper had a seven-game streak snapped at Bowling Green, but has still tallied at least one in 14 of the last 16 games (23 total).
CENTURY CLUB
Miami saw its fifth player join the century club in Alaska when junior Carter Camper made his 100th appearance as a RedHawk. He joined classmates Tommy Wingels, Pat Cannone, Vincent LoVerde and Justin Vaive as in the club's the newest entrants.
Seniors Jarod Palmer (161) and Gary Steffes (135) have also reached triple-digit appearances.
Andy Miele has played in 94 career games and could reach the mark during postseason play.
CLASS OF 100
The 2009-10 senior class is one of the most successful in school history and still has several games left to play. The foursome of Jarod Palmer, Gary Steffes, Dane Hetland and Brandon Smith has 104 wins over the last four years, good for second place.
The top 10 senior classes in Miami history:
1. 2008-09 106
2. 2009-10 104
3. 2007-08 98
4. 2006-07 88
5. 2005-06 88
6. 1994-95 84
7. 2010-11 (next year's seniors) 80
8. 1981-82 77
9. 2003-04 76
1995-96 76
1996-97 76
GRAB THE BROOM
Miami finished the season with weekend sweeps on nine opponents, two better than the seven it posted last year.
The latest victim of a Friday-Saturday sweep was Bowling Green on Feb. 12-13. this earlier this month, a span of four games. Only one other time did the RedHawks go at least six games without a sweep -- posting a 1-1-4 record from Nov. 13-28.
Miami has also won a pair of games against St. Cloud State, Northern Michigan, Michigan, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Ferris State, Western Michigan and Lake Superior State this season.
OPPONENT SWEEP
Robert Morris has posted the only sweep against the RedHawks this year, handing Miami its first back-to-back losses since the 2009 CCHA Tournament against Northern Michigan.
They also mark the first time the RedHawks have been swept in a weekend series by a non-conference opponent since Oct. 29-30, 2004 at St. Lawrence.
A year ago, only Michigan swept the RedHawks during the regular season.
SHORTHANDED SUCCESS
Miami picked up its fifth shorthanded goal of the season on Feb. 21 vs. Nebraska-Omaha when Chris Wideman found the net four-on-five.
Another defenseman, Joe Hartman, leads the team -- and is tied for sixth in the nation -- with a pair.
Tommy Wingels and Andy Miele have the RedHawks' other two shorthanded goals, both coming Nov. 20 at Western Michigan. That marked the first time Miami had two shorties in a game since Dec. 15, 2007 at Rensselaer.
...AND FAILURE
Lake Superior State scored the third shorthanded goal of the season against Miami midway through the second period on Feb. 6.
Robert Morris (Jan. 8) and North Dakota (Nov. 28) have the other 4-on-5 goals this season.
COMING BACK, I
Miami has fallen behind 1-0 in 16 of the 36 games this year, but that hasn't been a worry for the RedHawks. They have a 7-5-4 record in such contests.
During the 2008-09 campaign, the RedHawks were just 2-12-3 when the opponent scored first.
COMING BACK, II
Miami has faced a two-goal deficit seven times this season, rallying to tie the game in five of those. Losses to Nebraska-Omaha (4-2 on Feb. 21) and Robert Morris (3-1 on Jan. 8) are the exceptions.
The record in the five occurrences is 1-2-2. Miami rallied for the win Dec. 12 vs. Ohio State and earned ties with New Hampshire and North Dakota. The two losses came against Michigan State (in overtime) and Bemidji State.
FRESHMEN FEVER
Three of Miami's freshman class members have made a tremendous impact this season. Curtis McKenzie stands sixth on the team with 23 points (5g-18a), while Reilly Smith and Joe Hartman have 18 and 14 points, respectively. Hartman was part of the No. 1 defensive pairing earlier this year and also has a pair of shorthanded goals.
ALL IN
A total of seven players on the Miami roster have appeared in all 36 games this season. The number includes one freshman -- forward Reilly Smith.
Another rookie, Curtis McKenzie, was the latest player to miss a game -- he was scratched on senior night to allow for an all-senior line.
Reserve goaltender Ben Saksa and defenseman Garrett Kennedy are the only players on the active roster yet to see action for the RedHawks.
TOP TEAMS
Miami's ice hockey team has the best winning percentage among all 58 Division I teams since 2005-06. Over the last four-plus seasons, the RedHawks have compiled a record of 130-49-21 (.703), ahead of Michigan, which has a record of 130-64-11 (.661) during the same span.
QUICK STRIKES
Miami's two goals in the second St. Cloud State game came just 20 seconds apart at 5:22 and 5:42 of the third period. The school record for fastest pair of goals is 11 seconds.
SHOOTOUT NUMBERS
Five of Miami's CCHA games this season ended in a tie and went to a shootout to determine who gets the third point in the conference standings.
Both games of the first Ferris State series, the Saturday night contest at Western Michigan, the Alaska opener and the regular-season finale at Ohio State were still deadlocked after overtime and went to the extra session.
Miami is 4-5 all-time in shootouts, including 2-3 this season.
EMPTY NETTER
Andy Miele recorded Miami's second empty-net goal of the season on Friday vs. Lake Superior State, making the score 2-0 with 0.2 seconds remaining.
Jarod Palmer tallied the first empty-netter Dec. 12 when he scored with 27 seconds remaining against Ohio State.
TWO OTs IN A ROW
Miami's back-to-back overtimes against Ferris State Nov. 13-14 were the first since the end of the 2007-08 season. The RedHawks defeated Air Force in the first round of the NCAA Regionals 3-2, before falling to Boston College 4-3 the next night.
200 AND COUNTING
Miami University is celebrating its Bicentennial this year as the school was founded in 1809. The year-long celebration started on charter day - Feb. 16, 2009 - but the 2009-10 hockey season will be featured.
During the Notre Dame weekend, approximately 45 former players returned to campus to celebrate the history of the hockey program.
To commemorate the bicentennial, the team wore a special fourth jersey for both nights. The jerseys were then auctioned off to fans on MURedHawks.com.
PENALTY STOP
Sophomore Cody Reichard has stopped two penalty shots this season, first against Michigan State on Oct. 23 and then against Michigan on Nov. 6. Miami was also on the defensive end of two penalty shots last year with Connor Knapp making both stops.
THIS AND THAT
Miami stands to 20-0-0 when leading after two periods this season. The RedHawks are now 14-2-2 on Fridays, 10-2-5 on Saturdays and 18-0-3 when scoring first.
